DIMI Mascarenhas, left, was one of England’s better performers as they went down by 21 runs in the second one-day international against West Indies to stand level at 1-1 in the five-match series.

Captain Andrew Strauss hit 105 at the top of the order as England chased a testing target of 264, after Shivnarine Chanderpaul (112*) had underpinned the Windies innings on his home ground.

Even the in-form Strauss could not get the tourists over the line after they had stuttered to 97-5.

Mascarenhas came in at No 7 and went on to hit 29 – England’s second highest score – before being run out. It was the Hampshire captain’s first runs against the Windies on tour after ducks in the Twenty20 loss and Friday's first ODI.

“We lost too many wickets too early, and you are always a little bit behind the eight-ball then,” said Strauss.

“We did well to keep in the game but were always one or two wickets too far behind. We were putting all our eggs in one basket – the powerplay at the end.”

Mascarenhas had earlier taken 2-53 off his ten overs.